Thursday, March 08, 2012

Organizing the Data: Appellate Court - O'Brien vacancy

Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary; no Republican filed for this vacancy. Information on this post will be updated as time permits until the March 20, 2012 primary.
Updated 3/17/12

Jesse G. Reyes - #122

Campaign Website (This is a different website from the one previously linked; this new site has been substituted in the sidebar.)

Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune

Video Interviews: NTNM, Sonny Hersh Election Special, Issue Forum

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge Jesse G. Reyes is “Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Reyes was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1984 and became a judge in 1997. Judge Reyes is currently assigned to the Chancery Division’s Mortgage Foreclosure and Mechanics Lien Division. Judge Reyes is very involved in community, philanthropic and professional activities. Judge Reyes possesses the legal knowledge and ability to serve as an Appellate Court Justice.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Judge Jesse G. Reyes was elected as an Associate Judge in 1997. He currently sits in the Chancery Division hearing mortgage foreclosure matters. From 1995-1997, Judge Reyes worked as an Assistant Attorney at the Chicago Board of Education specializing in Civil Litigation, and from 1985 to 1995 he served as a Senior Supervising Attorney specializing in civil litigation at the City of Chicago Law Department, Torts Division. He was in private practice from 1984 to 1985. Judge Reyes has taught at the John Marshall Law School as a lecturer. He has written a Chapter on Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law and articles in the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Newsletter. Judge Reyes is exceptionally active in community service. Judge Reyes is considered to have good legal ability and temperament. He is praised for his courtroom management skills. He is always well-prepared and his rulings are often described as clear and well-reasoned. The Council finds him Qualified for the Appellate Court.
Other Bar Association Evaluations:
Asian American Bar Association of the
Greater Chicago Area		Recommended
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationHighly Recommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersHighly Recommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisQualified
Illinois State Bar AssociationQualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisHighly Qualified
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsements
Cook County Democratic Party
IVI-IPO
Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge No. 7
Illinois Fraternal Order of Police
Latin American Police Association
United Hellenic Voters of America
Jewish Chicago
Arab American Democratic Club
Advocates Society (recommended)
Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2 (recommended)
Chicago Defender

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Rodolfo (Rudy) Garcia - #123


Campaign Website

Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune

Candidate Statements: Cook County Clerk, In His Own Words (FWIW)

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge Rodolfo (Rudy) Garcia is “Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Garcia was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1981 and was elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1996. In 2003, Judge Garcia was assigned to the Illinois Appellate Court by the Illinois Supreme Court and appointed in 2011 to fill a vacancy on the Appellate Court. Judge Garcia currently serves as the Presiding Judge of the Sixth Appellate Division and is well regarded for his knowledge of civil and criminal law, writing skills, strong work ethic, and diligence. Judge Garcia is qualified to serve as an Appellate Court Justice.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Judge Rodolfo Garcia was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2003. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 1996. From 1983 to 1996, Judge Garcia worked as a sole practitioner with concentrations in criminal defense and immigration. From 1981 to 1983, he worked as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division. In March 2011, he was appointed to fill the elected spot of retiring Appellate Court Judge Michael J. Gallagher. He is presiding Judge of the Sixth Division. In 2007, Judge Garcia was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Committee on Jury Instructions (Civil) where he continues to sit. In 2005, he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Criminal Law Edit, Align, and Reform Commission.

Judge Garcia is praised for being well-prepared for oral argument and for issuing well-reasoned, well-written opinions. He is considered to have very good legal ability and temperament. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Appellate Court.
Other Bar Association Evaluations:
Asian American Bar Association of the
Greater Chicago Area		Recommended
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationHighly Recommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersRecommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisHighly Qualified
Illinois State Bar AssociationQualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisQualified
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsements
Illinois Federation of Teachers
Advocates Society (recommended)

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William S. Boyd - #124


Campaign Website

Chicago Tribune

Video Interviews: NTNM, Sonny Hersh Election Special


Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge William Stewart Boyd is “Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Boyd was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1981 and became an Associate Judge in 1998. Judge Boyd is currently assigned to the Domestic Relations Division and is well respected for his legal knowledge, strong work ethic, calm demeanor, and professionalism. Judge Boyd is qualified to serve as an Appellate Court Justice.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Judge William Boyd became an Associate Judge in 1998. He was in private practice from 1983 to 1998 doing family law, probate, and general litigation. Judge Boyd taught as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Chicago-Kent College of Law from 2003 to 2007, and was also a Guest Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law school from 2006 to 2010. He was the recipient of the Lincoln Award presented by the West Suburban Bar Association on April 30, 2010, the recipient of the Samuel Berger Award presented by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Illinois Chapter on April 17, 2010, recipient of the Charles Freeman Award presented by the Illinois Judicial Council on September 26, 2006, and recipient of a Service Award from the Union Baptist Church on November 21, 2000.

Judge Boyd receives uniformly high praise for his legal knowledge and ability. He is considered to have an excellent temperament and is praised for his ability to manage a high volume courtroom where he presides over often complex matters. He is reportedly exceptionally hard-working. Although Judge Boyd has not published legal articles, he has served as adjunct faculty/guest lecturer at area law schools. He is praised for the quality of his written opinions. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Appellate Court.
Other Bar Association Evaluations:
Asian American Bar Association of the
Greater Chicago Area		Recommended
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationHighly Recommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersRecommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisQualified
Illinois State Bar AssociationQualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisQualified
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsements
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2 (recommended)

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Ellen L. Flannigan - #125


Campaign Website (Newly found; added to blog sidebar)

Questionnaire Response: Chicago Tribune

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Judge Ellen Flannigan is “Not Recommended” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Flannigan was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1988 and was elected to the Circuit Court in 2006. Judge Flannigan served in the Traffic Division and is currently assigned to the Domestic Violence Division. Judge Flannigan’s judicial experience is limited and currently the candidate does not possess the requisite depth and breadth of judicial experience to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Judge Ellen L. Flannigan was admitted to practice in 1988. She was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2006, where she presides over cases in Traffic Court. Before being appointed to the bench, she was in private practice including serving as a partner with Mora Baugh Waitzman & Unger between 1993 and 2006 doing commercial litigation and securities law. Judge Flannigan is considered by many to be doing a good job in Traffic Court. Most respondents praise her legal ability and say that she is knowledgeable about traffic law matters. All report that she has a good temperament. Judge Flannigan provides no written opinions as a judge and her recent published works are limited to co-authoring a Circuit Court Protocol for Driving on a Suspended License cases and security law updates for clients when she was in private practice. The Council is concerned that she does not yet have the breadth or depth of experience, nor has she demonstrated her analytical writing ability. The Council finds her Not Qualified for the Appellate Court.
Other Bar Association Evaluations:
Asian American Bar Association of the
Greater Chicago Area		Not Qualified
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationNot Recommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersNot Recommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationNot Recommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisNot Recommended
Illinois State Bar AssociationNot Qualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoNot Recommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisNot Qualified

Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisNot Recommended


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Don R. Sampen - #126


Campaign Website (Newly found; link also added to blog sidebar)

Questionnaire Responses: Chicago Tribune, Illinois Civil Justice League

Bar Association Evaluations

The Chicago Bar Association says:
Don R. Sampen is “Highly Qualified” for the office of Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Mr. Sampen was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1975 and began his career as law clerk for a U.S. Court of Appeals Judge in the Seventh Circuit. Mr. Sampen has had a long and distinguished career in both government and the private sector. Mr. Sampen served in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as Chief of the Public Interest Bureau and Chief of the Special Litigation Bureau. Mr. Sampen has handled appeals throughout the country and in Illinois. Mr. Sampen has served as an adjunct professor of law and has served on community boards that have utilized his expertise in cable, zoning, and security issues. Mr. Sampen is well regarded for his legal knowledge, work ethic, and vast experience.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says:
Don R. Sampen was admitted to practice in 1975. He is a partner in the law firm of Clausen Miller. He has been an associate and partner with other law firms throughout his career. He is currently an adjunct professor at Loyola University School of Law and has served in the past as an adjunct professor at a variety of law schools in the Chicago area. He is a columnist for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and has authored several published works on antitrust law, Quo Warranto and Mandamus, and on insurance law. He has substantial experience in complex litigation and appellate court matters. Mr. Sampen is well respected as a trial litigator, an appellate practitioner, and as an author. He is considered to have very good legal ability and an excellent temperament. The Council finds him Well Qualified for the Appellate Court.
Other Bar Association Evaluations:
Asian American Bar Association of the
Greater Chicago Area		Qualified
Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater ChicagoRecommended
Cook County Bar AssociationRecommended
Decalogue Society of LawyersRecommended
Hellenic Bar AssociationRecommended
Hispanic Lawyers Association of IllinoisHighly Qualified
Illinois State Bar AssociationQualified
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of ChicagoRecommended
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisQualified
Women’s Bar Association of IllinoisRecommended

Endorsement
Illinois Civil Justice League

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